Attachment device for attaching decorations to a beverage container

ABSTRACT

An attachment device having a clip portion and a display element attachable to the clip portion is provided for associating a message with a bottle or other beverage container. The clip portion is generally arcuate and dimensioned to slide down and engage a neck of the beverage container. The display element provides a snap-fit mechanism for operatively associating with a boss of the clip portion. The display element provides a medium for applying a message or design thereto. Thereby a message may be associated with the bottle, the message may provide the occasion for why the bottle was gift gifted as well as displaying the contents of the bottle, all while allowing a label of the beverage to be seen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to beverage container accessories and,more particularly, to an attachment device for attaching decorations andmessages to a beverage container.

Bottles of wine and spirits are commonly given as gifts; however, theylack the capacity to display a relevant message or indicia as to whythey are being given to the recipient.

A gifted beverage container typically is presented in a gift bag, butsuch packaging hides the bottle and its label so that when the containeris given only the packaging is visible until pulling the bottle out ofbag. Once the proverbial cat is out of the bag any message attached tothe gift bag is soon forgotten. Furthermore, paper wine bags can tear orrip, their handles break off, and bags can wrinkle. Adding a bow to thebottle to convey a message also has its disadvantages, for example, thebow can droop. Similarly, gift cards can easily detach from the giftedbottle. As a result, the gifted bottle no longer has an associativecelebrative message, and thus the intent for giving the gift is lost.

In short, the current ways gift-givers of bottle of wine or spiritsconvey the message behind such gifts—e.g., through a gift card, a winebag, or the like—tend to fail by becoming physically detached from thegifted bottle or being overlooked. Whereby, the “thought that counts”embodied in these other approaches become quickly disassociated with thegift.

As can be seen, there is a need for an attachment device for attachingdecorations and messages to a beverage container that are highlyassociated therewith. The present invention embodies an attachmentdevice adapted to easily slip over the top of a bottle neck andinstantly becomes a part of the bottle. The display element may includea celebratory display features, a message or other indicia selectivelyapplied thereto for a user to associate with the bottle. For example,the message may be the occasion for why the gift giver is giving thewine as well as displaying the type of wine being gifted, all whileallowing the wine label to be seen. Thus, the wine bottle with adecorative attachment device attached is the gift.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an attachment device for abeverage container with an elongated neck includes the following: a baseportion having through hole; two arms extending from opposing sides ofthe base portion so as to define a circular opening; a boss layered overthe base portion, the boss having a boss hole aligning with the throughhole; a display element providing a planar portion; and a prongdimensioned to engage the through and the boss holes in a lockedengagement.

In another aspect of the present invention, the attachment device for abeverage container with an elongated neck includes the following: a baseportion having through hole; two arms extending from opposing sides ofthe base portion so as to define a circular opening, wherein the armsterminate to define a void communicating with the circular opening, andwherein a lower portion of the arms flare outward; a boss layered overthe base portion, the boss having a boss hole aligning with the throughhole; a display element providing a planar portion for attachingmessages and designs as a dimensional attribute; a prong having a stemand a distal tapering head; and a slot bisecting the head and a portionof the stem.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, method for providing apersonalized message associated with a bottled gift includes the stepsof: providing the attachment device disclosed above; sliding saidattachment device down a neck of the bottled gift so that the outwardlyflared lower portion of the arms abuts the shoulders of said bottledgift; applying a message along the attachable medium; and snapping theprong through the through hole so that a proximal portion of the stemlockingly engages.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an attachmentdevice having a clip portion and a display element attachable to theclip portion. The clip portion is generally arcuate and dimensioned toslide down and engage a neck of a beverage container. The displayelement provides a snap-fit mechanism for operatively associating with aboss of the clip portion. The display element provides a medium forapplying a message or design thereto. Thereby a message may beassociated with the gift, the message may provide the occasion for whythe gift giver is giving the wine as well as displaying the type of winebeing gifted, as well as allowing the wine label to be seen.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention may include anattachment device 10 for coupling to a bottle 12, the attachment device10 providing a clip portion 14 and a display element 16. The attachmentdevice 10 may be made from various plasticized materials, such asAcrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, or other materials capable or repeatbending without fracture and amenable to injection molding and/oradditive manufacturer. The plasticized materials may also have adhesiveproperties.

The clip portion 14 is adapted to operatively associate with a neck ofthe bottle 12, it being understood that the neck is generally elongatedin shape and connects to a wider body portion of the bottle 12. The clipportion 14 may be generally arcuate but not an endless loop; rather theclip portion 14 may provide opposing arms 44 that terminate beforeconverging and so define a void 50 between the two opposing arms 44. Thearms 14 may extend from a base portion 60 being planar relative to thearcuate arms 14, and thereby the arms 44 define a circular opening thatthe void 50 communicates with. The lower portions of the arms 44 mayflare outward.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the use ofdirectional terms such as outward and the like are used in relation tothe illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures; theoutward direction being toward the margins of the corresponding figures.

The base portion 60 may provide a through hole 62. Coupled to the flatbase portion 60 may be a boss 26. The boss 26 may also overlap a portionof each arm 14 adjacent to the base portion 60, as illustrated in FIG.2. The boss 26 may provide a boss hole 22 that aligns with the throughhole 62 of the base portion.

The display element 16 may provide a prong 24 extending from a planarportion 76. The prong 24 may terminate in an angular mushroom-cap shapedhead 54. The head 54 may taper inward as it approached its distal end. Aslot 56 may bisect the head 54 and continue through, bisecting, aportion of the stem 52 of the prong 24, as illustrated in the Figures.The head 54 is dimensioned and adapted to slide into the boss andthrough holes 22 and 62 as the space of the slot 56 allows the portionsof the head 54 to move inward when urged as the tapered head 54 isforced through the peripheries of said holes 22 and 62. After passingthrough the holes 22 and 62 the head 54 is biased to return to itsoriginal mushroom-cap shape, whereby the widest proximal portion thereoflockingly engages the through hole 62, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The outward facing portion of the planar portion 76 of the displayelement 14 provides a medium 18 for the attachment of messages, indicia,or the like. The planar portions 76 may also provide a platform foradhering other decorative elements 20 thereto, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. Theattachment device 10 disclosed above may be provided. A user may slidethe arcuate clip portion 14 down the neck of the bottle 12, the clipportion 14 stops when it reaches the shoulders of the body portion ofthe bottle 12, allowing for the flared lower portions of the arms 44 toabut the shoulders of the bottle 12, seemingly becoming a part of thebottle 12 as a celebrative feature. The snap-fit mechanism enables theuser to removably secure the display element 16 to the clip portion 14when in use.

Likewise, the present invention may be used to selectively associate abottle 12 (or other beverage container) to a certain individual, forexample during a social event, so that the individuals at the socialevent can identify their own bottle 12.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An attachment device for a beverage containerwith an elongated neck, comprising: a base portion having through hole;two arms extending from opposing sides of the base portion so as todefine a circular opening; a boss layered over the base portion, theboss having a boss hole aligning with the through hole; a displayelement comprising: a planar portion; and a prong dimensioned toremovably engage the through and the boss holes in a locked engagement.2. The attachment device of claim 1, further comprising a medium alongan outward surface of the planar portion for attaching messages ordesign thereon.
 3. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein the prongcomprises a stem and a distal tapering head.
 4. The attachment device ofclaim 3, further comprising a slot bisecting the head and a portion ofthe stem.
 5. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein the armsterminate to define a void communicating with the circular opening. 6.The attachment device of claim 1, wherein a lower portion of the armsflare outward.
 7. An attachment device for a beverage container with anelongated neck, comprising: a base portion having through hole; two armsextending from opposing sides of the base portion so as to define acircular opening, wherein the arms terminate to define a voidcommunicating with the circular opening, and wherein a lower portion ofthe arms flare outward; a boss layered over the base portion, the bosshaving a boss hole aligning with the through hole; a display elementcomprising: a planar portion; a medium along an outward surface of theplanar portion for attaching messages or design thereon; a prong havinga stem and a distal tapering head; and a slot bisecting the head and aportion of the stem.
 8. A method for providing a personalized messageassociated with a bottled gift, comprising the steps of: providing theattachment device of claim 7; sliding said attachment device down a neckof the bottled gift so that the outwardly flared lower portion of thearms abuts the shoulders of said bottled gift; applying a message ontothe said medium; and snapping the prong through the through hole so thata proximal portion of the stem lockingly engages.